Spring-latch.



H. B. RUBBER.

SPRING LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED 11113.23, 1 911.

1,01 1,854. Patented Dec. 12,1911.

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HENRY B. ROEBER, OF TULARE, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SPRING-LATCH.

Application filed March 23, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

Serial No. 616,431.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY 13. Roman, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tulare, in the county of Spink and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Latches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to end gates for wagons and has for its object to provide an improved fastening device for a wagon end gate by means of which the sections of the end gate may be locked and rigidly held in alinement and by means of which also the sections of the end gate can be readily unlocked so that the end gate may be removed from the wagon.

Referring to the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a view of a wagon end gate provided with means for locking the sections of the end gate. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of one of the sections of the end gate and the means for locking the sections of the end gate together. Fig. 3 is a detail edge view of a spring strip forming a part of the means for locking the sections of the end gate together. Fig. i is a detail view in longitudinal section of a portion of one of the sections of the end gate and of the means for locking said sections rigidly in position.

In the accompanying drawings 1 indicates a wagon end gate formed with the sections 2 and 3 connected together by the hinges 4 thereby adapting the end gate to buckle. In order to provide means for looking the sections of the end gate in rigid position an oblong plate 5 is provided secured to the section 2 of the end gate by rivets 6, and projecting over the hinged joint of the sections 2 and 3 and extending to a point adjacent to the outer end of the section 3. The outer end of the plate 5 is formed with an open ended slot 7 through which extends a pin 8 projecting from the section 3, as more particularly shown in Fig. 4. Pivotally mounted on the end of the pin 8 is an arm 9 which is of a size to permit it to pass through the slot 7 when in the longitudinal position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 by swinging the section 3 toward or away from the U-shaped plate 5. A plate 10 is secured to the plate 5 and extends on both sides and about the rear end of the slot 7, the arm 9 being movable over said plate. WVhen the sect-ion 3 is swung into alinement with the section 2 and is thereby brought against the plate 5, the arm 9 which is in extended position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 passes through the slot 7 and may then be swung over the plate 5 to the laterally extended position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. In order to securely hold the arm 9 in this position and thereby lock the sections of the end gate in their extended position, a metal strip 11 is provided which consists of a strip of metal having its rear portion 12 secured to the plate 5 by rivets 13 and is formed with the upwardly bent portion 14 and with the straight resilient portion 15 extending therefrom and by reason of the bent portion 14: having a spring movement. The outer end of the straight portion 15 is formed with a curved portion 16 forming a transverse groove therein and adapted to fit over the inner end of the arm 9 and firmly clamp the same when in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the arm 9 locking the section 3 and the plate 5 together, and the spring strip locking the arm 9 in position and preventing it from turning.

The resilient portion 15 of the strip'll extends longitudinally over the slot 7 and the slot in the U-shaped plate 10, and thereby when the arm 9 is moved from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to that shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 the outer end. of the resilient portion 15 will be lifted and when the arm 9 is brought to the position shown in Fig. 2 the resilient portion 15 will aid in buckling the foldable sections of the gate when they are manually seized and pulled outward from their supports, the spring portion 15 serving at the same time to move the arm 9 through the slot 7. The arm 9 projecting from the side of the plate 5 can be readily grasped to move it into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

What I claim is An end gate formed of foldable sections hinged together, an'oblong plate secured at one end to one of said sections and projecting over the other and having an open ended slot at its outer end, a metallic U-shaped friction plate having a longitudinal slotmounted on said plate adjacent to the slot and the oblong plate and having its opening in alinement therewith, a pivot pin project ing from the latter section and through said slot, an arm mounted on said pivot pin and movable throughsaid slot when in alinement therewith, and extending beyond the side of said oblong plate and adapted to be swung over said friction plate to lock said last named section and the oblong plate together, and a spring arm for retaining said pivot pin in locked position consisting of a metallic strip secured at one end to said oblong plate and projecting longitudinally over said slot and formed with a spring acting forward portion having a transverse groove, said forward portion adapted to snap over and have its transverse groove engage the inner end of said locking arm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY B. ROEBER. Witnesses lV. P. Town, A. C. FOGLESONG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

